Île-à-la-Crosse Boarding School Class Action
Reviewed by Marty Mikhail, lawyer licensed by the Law Society of OntarioLast verified How we verify
Status
Claims openEstimated Payout
Up to $235,000 per person
Claim deadline
See all 2 forms
- Claim FormThis Claim Form is for Survivor Class Members submitting a Claim for themselves.
- Representative Claim FormThis form is for Personal Representatives, Estate Representatives, or Eligible Heirs claiming on behalf of a Survivor Class Member, not for self filing.
Claim.ca does not recommend any specific form. Always verify which form applies to your situation against the official settlement notice and contact the claims administrator if you have questions.
About this claim
If you attended the Île-à-la-Crosse Boarding/Mission School before it closed around 1975-76 and were alive on December 9, 2003 (or you are the estate representative or heir of a Survivor who was), you may be eligible for an Experience Payment of up to $10,000 or up to $15,000 plus Abuse Compensation of up to $50,000 to a maximum of up to $235,000 if you experienced serious physical or sexual abuse. You do not need to live in Saskatchewan to file a claim. Eligibility is based on meeting the class definition, not on where you live today.
See the questions the eligibility checker asks
The checker asks these questions. Use the Check Eligibility button to answer them and see a result.
- Did you attend the Île-à-la-Crosse Boarding/Mission School as a student or for educational purposes, either as a residential student or a day student?This means the boarding school that operated from around 1860 to 1975-76, not the Rossignol School run by the Île-à-la-Crosse School Board.
- Was the Survivor alive on December 9, 2003?If the Survivor has passed away since December 9, 2003, their estate representative or eligible heir can apply on their behalf.
- Are you claiming for something other than attendance at the Rossignol School that opened in 1975-76?The Rossignol School run by the Île-à-la-Crosse School Board is not covered by these settlements.
- Are you still included in this class action, meaning you did not opt out?If you never filed an Opt-Out Form, answer Yes.
Experience Payments
- Did you attend the Île-à-la-Crosse School as a student or for educational purposes?
- Were you alive on December 9, 2003?If the Survivor was alive on that date but has since passed away, their estate representative or eligible heir can apply on their behalf.
Abuse Compensation
- Did you experience serious physical abuse or sexual abuse while attending the Île-à-la-Crosse School?
Read more
The Île-à-la-Crosse Boarding School (also called the Île-à-la-Crosse Mission School or residential school) in Saskatchewan operated from around 1860 to 1975-76. It was one of the first boarding schools in Canada established for Indigenous children, and its students were primarily Métis, along with First Nations children from Northern Saskatchewan. A class action lawsuit argued that the Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan helped fund, oversee, and control the school, and that they failed in their duties to care for the students and protect them from harm.
These allegations were not proven in court. Instead, the parties reached settlements, and a judge certified the class action and approved the Settlement Agreements with Canada and Saskatchewan on April 29, 2026. Canada will pay $27.335 million for Experience Payments to all Survivors plus $10 million for a Legacy Fund, and Saskatchewan will pay $40.2 million, which includes Abuse Compensation for Survivors who experienced serious physical or sexual abuse at the school. Both governments have acknowledged that Survivors of the school suffered harms.
Claim types
This case covers more than one type of claim. Each has its own payment, proof requirements, and eligibility. Review the type that applies to you.
Experience Payments
Compensation from Canada for every Survivor who attended the Île-à-la-Crosse School, to reflect the harmful effects all Survivors experienced from attending. The amount depends on how long the Survivor attended the school, and even one day of a school year counts as a school year. Residential students may later receive a top-up if money is left from the Saskatchewan settlement, with no extra application needed.
Payment: $10,000 for attending four or fewer school years, or $15,000 for attending five or more school years, subject to proportionate reduction if funds are insufficient
Proof: ID required
Who qualifies
- Attended the Île-à-la-Crosse School as a student or for educational purposes before it closed around 1975-76
- Was alive on December 9, 2003 (or the claim is made by the Survivor's estate representative or eligible heir)
- Claim Form submitted to the Claims Administrator by June 1, 2027
Abuse Compensation
Compensation from Saskatchewan for Survivors who experienced serious physical abuse or sexual abuse while attending the Île-à-la-Crosse School. Payments are made at four levels based on the severity of the abuse and its effects, on top of any Experience Payment. Grandchildren of Survivors are not eligible to apply for Abuse Compensation on a deceased Survivor's behalf.
Payment: $50,000 maximum at Level 1, $100,000 maximum at Level 2, $185,000 maximum at Level 3, and $235,000 maximum at Level 4, depending on the severity of the abuse and its effects
Proof: ID required
Who qualifies
- Meets the Survivor Class criteria (attended the school and was alive on December 9, 2003)
- Experienced serious physical abuse or sexual abuse while attending the Île-à-la-Crosse School
- Part 5 of the Claim Form submitted to the Claims Administrator by June 1, 2028
- Grandchildren of deceased Survivors cannot apply for this category
How to Submit Your Claim
- Online claims portalhttps://portal.ilexsettlement.ca
- Submit by Email[email protected]
- Submit by Fax416-324-4411
- Submit by MailClaims Administrator c/o Deloitte LLP, PO Box 278 STN ADELAIDE, Toronto ON M5C 2J4
Claim Administrator
- Deloitte LLP
- Toll-free1-833-700-7458
- Email[email protected]
- Websitehttps://ilexsettlement.ca
- MailClaims Administrator c/o Deloitte LLP, PO Box 278 STN ADELAIDE, Toronto, ON M5C 2J4
- Fax416-324-4411
Class Counsel
- Sotos LLP
- Toll-free1-888-451-9227
- Email[email protected]
- Mail55 University Avenue, Suite 600, Toronto, ON M5J 2H7
- Goldblatt Partners LLP
- Toll-free1-855-214-7557
- Email[email protected]
- Mail20 Dundas Street West, Suite 1039, Toronto, ON M5G 2C2
- Merchant Law Group LLP
- Phone306-271-2896
- Email[email protected]
- Mail2401 Saskatchewan Drive, Suite 100, Regina, SK S4P 4H8
Class members can get free help with their claim from the claims administrator listed above.
Settlement Notices
Opting out
The deadline to opt out was and has passed. Opting out is no longer available. Class members who did not opt out remain in the class and are bound by the outcome.
Remind me before this claim closes
Drop in your email and you'll get two reminders before the Île-à-la-Crosse Boarding School Class Action deadline of : one 30 days out, one 7 days out. That's it. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What compensation can I receive?
Every approved Survivor claim receives an Experience Payment of up to $10,000 for four or fewer school years of attendance, or up to $15,000 for five or more school years. Survivors who experienced serious physical or sexual abuse at the school can also receive Abuse Compensation of up to $235,000 depending on the level of harm, and residential students may receive an Experience Payment top-up if money remains from the Saskatchewan settlement.
What are the deadlines to apply?
The deadline to apply for an Experience Payment is June 1, 2027. The deadline to apply for Abuse Compensation (Part 5 of the Claim Form) is June 1, 2028. Part 5 can be submitted together with the rest of the Claim Form or later, as long as it arrives by June 1, 2028.
What documents do I need to provide?
You must include a copy of your valid government-issued identification and provide your school attendance dates with a signed solemn declaration. School records or other documents showing your attendance, and documents supporting an abuse claim, are optional but helpful. Your account will be believed unless there is reasonable contradictory evidence.
Can I apply on behalf of a Survivor who has passed away?
Yes. If the Survivor was alive on December 9, 2003, but has since died, their estate representative (if there is a will) or highest-ranking next of kin (if there is no will) can apply using the Claim Form for Representatives of Survivor Class Members. Grandchildren of Survivors are not eligible to apply for Abuse Compensation.
When will I receive my payment?
The Claims Administrator will make a partial payment once your application is approved, and the rest will be paid after all applications are decided. Payments can be sent by direct deposit, e-transfer (Experience Payments only), or cheque.
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